• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Perkins leads Twins past Tigers

Jul 12, 2008 - 3:41 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Prior to the season's start, solving the heavy-hitting Detroit Tigers seemed like a daunting task. However, it seems Glen Perkins has discovered the formula.

Perkins threw 6 2/3 solid innings and continued his success against division rivals in the Minnesota Twins' 3-2 victory over Detroit on Friday.

The 25-year-old lefthander allowed six hits to improve to 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in three starts against the Tigers this season and is unbeaten in five starts against American League Central foes.

"It was all Perkins. We needed that performance," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The big thing was we needed Perkins to go deep."

Perkins (6-2), who hasn't lost since May 30, protected a 3-1 lead until the seventh, where he ran into trouble.

He surrendered a lead off double to Matt Joyce and a single to Ivan Rodriguez. After Ramon Santiago sacrificed the runners over and Curtis Granderson was hit by a pitch, Placido Polanco lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the Tigers' deficit in half.

Reliever Jesse Crain wiggled out of the jam by getting Carlos Guillen to fly out to center.

"We just haven't been coming around with the bats and getting the big hit," Joyce said. "The Twins are a good team. They make the pitches when they need to and they get the big hits. They are tough to beat."

Matt Guerrier and Joe Nathan retired the next six batters to give Perkins his fourth win in five starts and second in a row. Nathan, who was selected to pitch for the AL in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, earned his 26th save in 28 chances.

"It never an easy game against (Detroit)," Twins first baseman Justin Morneau said. "They can, with one swing of the bat, change the outcome of the game. But we have total faith that our bullpen will keep us in the game and with Nathan in there, it's a sure win."

The Twins, who won an 11-inning game on Thursday, have beaten the Tigers four straight times.

"They are a team of patient hitters and they were able to get my pitch count up, which put me out of my rhythm," said Detroit starter Armando Galarraga, who allowed two runs, six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. "You have to give them credit, they are a very tough team."

Nick Punto smacked an RBI double in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1 and lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth to give Minnesota the lead for good against Galarraga (7-3).

"Our offense just didn't do anything," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We didn't make any opportunities for ourselves. We just didn't do enough."